Abrading machine knee



Wiayl 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 1945. 1.. E. THOMPSON 2,375,149

-ABRADING MACHINE KNEE Filed Sept-l6 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 1, '1945.

L. E. THOMPSON ABRADING MACHINE KNEE Filed Sept. 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 uwnr lllllll ml m 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fv L L. E. THOMPSON v ABRADING MACHINE KNEE Filed Sept. 16, 1943 May 1, 1945.

mm Mm Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED STATE TENT OFFICE ABRADING MACE KNEE Loren E. Thompson, Parkershurg, W. Va. Application September 16, 1943, Serial No. 502,668 Claims. (c1. 51-233) This invention relates to abrading machines,

and is a continuation-in-part of my copending hydraulic locking means for locking the knee in adjusted position.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an abrading machine a knee or work carrier support and hydraulic means for adjusting the position of the knee relative to a base structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination with a vertical standard carried by a base member, a vertically adjustable knee, a locking wedge for holding the knee in adjusted position, and a hydraulic operator for the locking wedge.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a work carrier support an improved adjusting means therefor which will eliminate inaccuracies of adjustment due to wear of parts which occur in screw adjusting mechanisms.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, modifications and variations may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of an abrading machine partly broken away and in section embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail end elevationof the machine.

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4, of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 65 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I9 designates generally a base having an upright or standard II extending therefrom on which an improved knee structure I2 constructed according to an embodiment of this invention is slidably mounted.

The knee structure I2 is tion, as will be hereinafter described, and has mounted on the upper portion thereof a saddle I3 carrying a cradle l4 and a slidable work supporting member I5 is carried by the cradle I l. The standard I I has mounted on the upper end thereof a motor it having a pair of abrading wheels of hollow construcll and I8 secured to the armature shaft thereof with the abrading wheels confronting the longitudinal inner edges of the two work supporting members or carriages I5 which are mounted on the pair of knees I2 slidably carried by the opposite vertical sides of the standard II.

The two knees 12 are of like construction and the detailed description of one of these knees will apply equally as well to the other knee. The knee I2 comprises a front wall I9, opposite end walls 29, a rear wall 2|, a top wall 22 and a bottom wall 23. A rearwardly projecting slide structure 24 extends rearwardly from the rear wall 2I and includes a pair of V-shaped slide members 25 which slidably engage in a truncated V-shaped guide 26 which is formed integral with one side of the standard I I.

The knee I2 is adapted to be raised by hydraulic means including a pump 21 which is operated from. a motor 28. The interior of the knee I2 includes a pair of inner walls 29 and 30 extending rearwardly from the front wall I9 and connected at their rear ends to an inner wall 3! parallel with the front wall I9. The walls 29, 39 and 3| define with the central portion of the front wall I9 a central chamber 32. An inner bottom wall 33 is disposed between the side walls 29-3ll and the front wall I9 and rear wall 3!, forming a liquid reservoir 34 below the chamber 32. The pump 21 is connected by means of an intake pipe 35 to a strainer 36 disposed in the reservoir 34. The knee l2 has fixedly disposed therein a pair of vertically disposed cylinders 31, one cylinder 31 being disposed between the side wall 29 and the adjacent end wall 29, whereas the other cylinder (not shown) is disposed between the side wall 30 and the other end wall 20.

The cylinder 39 is in the present instance secured to a connecting web 38 formed integral with the rear wall 2! and the cylinder 3'! opens through the bottom wall 23 and is connected at its upper end to an upwardly offset wall 38. The wall 38 is formed with a guide channel 39 of truncated V-shaped configuration for slidably supporting the saddle I3. The bottom wall 23 is' formed with a recess 48 about the lower open end of the cylinder 31 and a plate 4| is secured in the recess by fastening members 42. A top Dlate or head 43 is mounted in a recess 44 formed in the upper end of the cylinder 31 so as to maintain the upper end of the cylinder closed.

A stationary piston 45 slidably engages through the lower plate 4| and is adapted at its lower end to rest on the upper side of the base l0. The cylinder 31 is formed with a fluid passage 45 opening into the upper end of the cylinder and the top wall 22 is also formed with a fluid passage 41 communicating at one end with the passage 46. A fluid conducting pipe 48 is connected at one end to the opposite end of the fluid passage 41 and is connected at the opposite end thereof-to a three-way valve 49. The valve 49 has connected thereto an intake pipe.50 which is connected to a pressure relieving valve structure 5|. The pressure relieving structure 5! is of conventional construction and is connected by means of a pipe 52 to the outlet orpressure side of the pump 21. The pressure relieving valve structure 5! has connected thereto a discharge pipe 53 which is also connected with the inner bottom wall 33 and discharges into the reservoir 34. The valve 49 has connected thereto a return pipe 54 which is connected to a vertically disposed r turn or discharge pipe 55.

The discharge pipe 55 communicates with the reservoir 33 so that when thevalve 49 is shut on. with the knee l2 in the desired raised position, the pump 21 may continue in: operation with the fluid flowing from the pipe through the valve 49 back through the return pipes 54 and to the reservoir 33. A second pressure pipe 56 is connected at one end to a T 51 which is interposed in the pipe 48 and the pipe 56 is connected to an oppositely disposed fluid conducting channel 4112 which communicates with the opposite cylinder 31 (not shown).

In order to provide a means whereby the knee l2 may be locked in its adjusted position along the length of the standard I l, I have provided a pair of knee looking members, generally designated as 58. The locking members 58 each include a substantially triangular locking member or wedge 59 which is secured to an elongated stem 69. The stem 60 is slidable in a guide 6| disposed between the wall 3| and the slide 26. The

angled edge 62 of the locking member 29 is adapted to bear against the adjacent angled edge or face of the truncated V-shaped guide 26. The stems 60 are slidable through the guide members 61 and are connected together at their forward ends by means or a connecting bar 53. Preferably, a nut 64 is threaded onto each stem 65 and is adapted to bear against a boss 65 carried by the inner wall 3| within the chamber 32.

A pair of inwardly projecting guides 66 are carried by the wall 29 and slidably support the forward ends of the stems 55. The two locking members 58 are adapted to be moved to a knee locking position by means of a hydraulic operator generally designated as 61. The operator 61 includes a cylinder 68 provided with a bar 69 which is secured by fastening members 10 to the inner side of the wall 29. A piston 1| is slidable in the cylinder 58 and has secured thereto one end of a piston rod 12.

the piston rod 12 is secured ner to the central portion of the connecting bar or crosshead 63. If desired, a spring 13 may be disposed about the piston rod 12, bearing at one end against the adjacent end of the cylinder 68 The opposite end of in any suitable manand at the opposite end against the connecting bar or crosshead 63.

The cylinder 68 has connected to the inner portion thereof one end of a pressure conducting pipe 14. The other end of the pipe 14 is connected to a valve 15. The valve 15 is preferably a three-way valve which-is connected by means of a pipe or nipple 16 to the pipe 59. A return fluid conducting pipe 11 is connected at one end to the valve 15 and at the other end to a T 18 which this manner the return fluid from the cylinder 68 is adapted to' return through the pipe 14, the valve 15 and the nipple or pipe 11 to the return pipe 55.

The rear portion of the knee I2 is formed with a downwardly tapered fluid guide 19 which is open at its upper end, being formed with a concave upper open end portion and a lower open end 8| for discharging cuttin fluid from the abrading wheels onto the upper surface of the base Ill. The base H] the cutting fluid within the base H) is withdrawn by means of a pump 82 which is connected at its suction side by means of a pipe 83 to an intake strainer 84. The outlet side of the pump 82 is connected by means of a pipe 85 to a pair of upwardly extending pipes 86 which are adapted to be connected to fluid discharging nozzles 81 which are connected to the pipes 86 by a flexible hose 88, as shown in Figure 2.

The fluid supply line 59 has connected thereto a pipe line 89 and preferably a four-way valve 95 is interposed in the pipe 89, the valve 90 being pipe 91 to the return pipe line 89 has connected to the outer end thereof a flexible pipe orhose 92 which is connected to a head 93 carried by the cradle 54. The four-way valve 90 is of conventional construction and is adapted in one position thereof to communicate fluid pressure from the connected by means of a 54. The fluid pressure pipe 59 to the pipe 89 and in another position thereof to communicate the pipe 89 with the return pipe 9!, cutting 01? the pressure supply pipe line 59.

The front wall l9 of the knee I2 is formed with a plurality of horizontally disposed keyways or slots 94, the slots 94 being of T-shaped configuration for receiving headed bolts or the like to fasten work or other articles on the front side of the wall l9.

In the use and operation of this structure, when it is desired t raise the knee l2 the valve 49 is opened to communicate the pressure supply line 55 with the ducts 41 and 41a. The fluid pressure will then enter the cylinder 31 and raise the knee I2 to the desired position. When the knee i2 is in its desired vertical position, the valve 49 may be cut off and the valve 15 may then be opened to communicate the hydraulic locking member 67 with the pressure line 50. The fluid pressure entering the cylinder 58 on the rear side of the piston 1! will move the piston 11 to the left, as viewed in Figure 5 thereby pulling the locking members 58 forwardly to a locked position. The valve 15 may then be closed without communicating the pipe 14 with the return pipe 55. The knee will then be locked in its vertically adjusted position.

With a hydraulic operator for raising the knee as hcreinbefore described, there will be no lost of the elevating structure gears or threaded shafrts lower the knee. The knee work support or carriage as is the case where are used to raise and forms a part of a connects the pipes 54 and 55 together. In

is of hollow construction and embodied in my copending application Serial Number 478,925 supra. After the knee [2 has been raised to the desired position and locked in this position, the motor 28 may be cut off so that the pump 2i will not continue in operation and any excess pressure returned through the pressure relieving valve structure M to the fluid reservoir 34.

When it is desired to lower the knee, the valve 15 may be adjusted to communicate the pipe M with the return pipe 55. The spring It will move the locking members 58 to a released position, whereupon the valve 69 may be moved to a position communicating the pipes $8 with the return pipe 54. The knee being relatively heavy will gravitatingly move downwardly to the desired position. I

This knee structure has been constructed as part of a relatively heavy grinding machine and by having the elevating structure for the knee actuated by hydraulic means, the abrading machine can bemade more compact and at a lower cost than where the elevating or adjusting structure is formed of gears or threaded shafts. In addition by actuating the knee through anydraulic means, the adjustment for the knee can be made to a more finer degree than has heretofore been possible with mechanically operated adjusting means.

What I claim is:

1. In an abrading machine, a base, a standard rising from said base, a work supporting knee vertically slidable on said standard, hydraulic means carried by and disposed within said knee for raising said knee, and means carried by said knee engageablewith said standard for locking said knee in vertically adjusted position;

2. In an abrading machine, a base, a standard rising from said base, a work supporting knee vertically slidable on said standard, hydraulic means carried by and disposed Within said knee for raising said knee, and hydraulically operated means carried by said knee engageable with said standard for locking said knee in vertically adjusted position.

3. In an abrading machine, a base, a standard rising from said base, an elongated horizontally disposed work support vertically slidable on said standard, a pair of vertically disposed cylinders fixed relative to said support, stationary pistons slidable in said cylinders and engaging said base at their lower ends, and fluid pressure means connected to said cylinders for vertically raising said support.

4. In an abrading machine, a base, a standard rising from said base, an elongated horizontally disposed work support vertically slidable on said standard, a pair of vertically disposed cylinders fixed relative to said'support, stationary pistons slidable in said cylinders and engaging said base at their lower ends, and fluid pressure means connected to said cylinders for vertically raising said support, said pressure means being contained within said support.

5. In an abrading machine, a base, a standard rising from said base, an elongated horizontally disposed work support vertically slidable on said standard, a pair of vertically disposed cylinders fixed relative to said support, stationary pistons slidable in said cylinders and engaging said base at their lower ends, fluid pressure means connected to said cylinders for vertically raisin said support, Wedge-shaped locking means carried by said support engageable with said standard for locking said support in adjusted position, and operating means for said locking means.

6. In'an abrading machine, a, base, a standard rising from said base, an elongated horizontally disposed Work support vertically slidable on said standard, a pair ofvertically disposed cylinders fixed relative to said support, stationary pistons slidable in said cylinders and engaging said base at their lower ends, fluid pressure means connected to said cylinders for vertically raising said support, wedge-shaped locking means carried by said support engageable with said standard for locking said support in adjusted position, and a fluid pressure operator for said locking means.

'7. In an abrading machine, abase, a standard rising from said base, an elongated horizontally disposed Work support verticall slidable on said standard, a pair of vertically disposed cylinders fixed relative to said support, stationary pistons slidable in said cylinders and engagingsaid base at their lower ends, fluid pressure means connectedto said cylinders for vertically raising said support, Wedge-shaped locking means carried by said support engageable with said standard for locking said support in adjusted position, and a fluid pressure operator for said locking means, said operator also connected to said fluid pressure means.

8. In an abrading machine, a base, a standard rising from said base, guide means carried by said standard, a hollow Work supporting knee slidably engaging said guide means, means dividing said knee into a central chamber and a pair of outer chambers, a vertical cylinder in each outer chamber, a pair of upright pistons extending upwardly from said base and slidable in said cylinders, and hydraulic means in said central chamber connected to said cylinders for vertically adjusting said knee. I

9. In an abrading machine, a base, a standard rising from said base, guide means carried by said standard, a hollow work supporting knee slidably engaging said guide means, means dividing said knee into a central chamber and a pair of outer chambers, a vertical cylinder in each outer chamber, a pair of upright pistons extending upwardly from said base and slidable in said cylinders, hydraulic means in said central chamber connected to said cylinders for vertically adjusting said knee, and means for locking extending upwardly from said base and slidable in said cylinders, hydraulic means in said central chamber connected to said cylinders for vertically adjusting said knee, and hydraulic means in said central chamber for locking said knee in adjusted position.

LOREN E. THOMPSON. 

